Bantam Chick Questions

[Lavender and CJ]

Hey y’all! This will be my second batch of chicks, and my first ever bantam flock. I’m getting 4 D’uccles and 2 Silkies, all sexed females from Meyer Hatchery. They will hatch tomorrow.
-Does anyone have any tips about bantams specifically?
-Our feed store sells chick grit, but will that be too big for them?
-We are in Utah and I know that Meyer is in Ohio. I wish we were closer to the hatchery but I wanted sexed bantams. Has anyone shipped them this far, and will they be okay?

 

[Folly's place]

We've had both bantam chicks and standard chicks shipped from Cackle, and in general had a slightly higher % of deaths in the bantam babies. Never everyone, but a difference. And six is a very small number, more issues with either cold or heat in shipping possible.
Grit will be necessary when they have other than chick starter available, and chick grit would be best. However, it now seems that the 'adult grit' available here has many tiny pieces of stone, and seems like your babies could manage with it in a few weeks.
Love d'Uccles!
Mary

 

[Lavender and CJ]

Thank you!